by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (April 16, 2019) A spat between two inmates at the Gambella prison in western Ethiopia led to a brawl between two clan groups, offering a rare chance for 92 inmates to escape. Local media reports said the prison had few police officers who were busy breaking up the fight, which gave an opportunity for 92 ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (December 13, 2018) Members of the Ethiopian parliament paid a visit to the now closed Ma’ekelawi, an infamous jail in the capital Addis Ababa where political prisoners have been tortured. After international outcry over torture and abuse of prisoners at the jail, which also doubled as the “central investigation bureau,” the government announced in April ...

by Engidu Woldie ESAT News (July 4, 2018) The federal prosecutor said five officials with the government prison administration have been fired for perpetrating torture and other human rights abuses against political and other prisoners. Freed political prisoners have exposed on ESAT and other media outlets that torture against inmates by prison officer and their bosses have been a common ...

ESAT News (May 28, 2018) Political prisoners at Ethiopia’s notorious Qillinto prison went on hunger strike today on the occasion of May 28, a day the ruling EPRDF took power in Addis Ababa. The prisoners say the day has brought tyranny and repression to Ethiopians and hence they said they wanted to mark it with hunger strike. According to the ...